Lamine Yamal scored as Spain beat Saudi Arabia 4-0 in Atalanta on Sunday for their first World Cup victory.The 18-year-old striker scored in the 11th minute when he curled in a low pass at the far post. The goal made him the eighth youngest scorer in World Cup history and helped Spain stage a comeback after a 0-0 draw with Cape Verde in the opening game.Yamal’s name now appears in a list of players including Argentinian players Lionel Messi and Pele of Brazil.Yamal scored his first World Cup goal at the age of 18 years and 343 days, only 14 days younger than Messi who scored his first World Cup goal at 18 years and 357 days.According to Opta, Yamal is the second player aged 18 or under to open the scoring for his country in a World Cup match. The other is Pele, who was just 17 when he scored for Brazil against Wales in 1958.Yamal missed Barcelona’s season-ending games with a hamstring injury and came on as a substitute in Spain’s opening game against Cape Verde.His place in the starting lineup was a major talking point ahead of the match against Saudi Arabia, with Spanish coach Luis de la Fuente deciding to start him. The decision paid off quickly as Yamal opened the scoring early in the game.Despite his advanced age, Yamal is regarded as one of the leading figures in young players in world football. He also played a key role in Spain’s Euro 2024 triumph, playing in the competition as a 16-year-old.The win puts Spain’s World Cup campaign back on track after a disappointing result in their opening match.
